Local Food Infrastructure Fund Program – Canada

Deadline: 31-May-23

Government of Canada has launched the Local Food Infrastructure Fund Program to help increase food security through investments in infrastructure needs.

Objectives

• The program is aimed at community-based, not-for-profit organizations with a mission to reduce food insecurity by establishing and strengthening their local food system.The impact of which must be targeted and immediate, and must be directly related to addressing food security and increasing the accessibility and distribution of healthy, nutritious and ideally local foods within community(ies).

Funding Information

• Under the current intake, you may be eligible to receive a minimum of $15,000 and a maximum of $120,000 in grant funding.

Program Priorities

• Projects must be infrastructure specific, community-driven and dedicated to improving access to safe and healthy foods.

Eligible projects

• Eligible projects must be for infrastructure-specific requests. Some examples include:
  • a walk-in refrigerator or other appliances
  • a greenhouse or smokehouse
  • irrigation systems or garden equipment

Eligible activities

• Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
  • production of food (for example, community kitchens, community gardens, urban farms, vertical gardens)
  • preparation, refrigeration, distribution, and storage of food (for example, kitchen appliances, refrigerators, freezers, packaging equipment)
  • transportation of food (for example, refrigerated vehicles, cargo vans)
  • establishment of energy systems (for example, greenhouses, solar panels)
  • establishment of water infrastructure (for example, irrigation systems, rainwater capture systems and wells)
  • costs for the installation of infrastructure purchased through this project
• Project activities must be completed by March 31, 2024.

Eligibility Criteria

• Not-for-profit: Organizations that have a mandate or mission to provide community food services. They may include:
  • associations
  • clubs
  • co-operatives
  • societies
  • local community, charitable or voluntary organization
• Municipal and regional governments
• Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit): A First Nation, Métis or Inuit organization. They may include:
  • First Nation, Métis or Inuit community and/or government
  • First Nation, Métis or Inuit not-for-profit association
  • First Nation, Métis or Inuit not-for-profit organization
• You have been in operation for at least 2 years as a legal entity by the application submission date and you are capable of entering into a legally binding agreement

Ineligible activities

• Passenger vehicles such as mini-vans and trucks will not be considered.
• Lease of equipment or vehicles will not be considered.
• Complex projects, such as projects that include renovations, construction, and multi-year projects will not be considered under this funding intake, as impacts must be targeted and immediate.
• No profits or commercial gain can be derived from the projects undertaken through this funding and any revenues generated must be reinvested into sustaining the project. Infrastructure should not be used for the commercial production or processing of food.

For more information, visit Government of Canada.